Stocking counting device



y 5, 1954 F. AUTEM STOCKING COUNTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1949 INVENTOR I Fred Awi em May 25, 1954 F AUTEM 2,679,358

STOCKING COUNTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 P l E- -Q- 'l 67 & "flip Z .50 l V 166 6% w 58 j a?" if I, I I I) May 25, 1954 Filed Aug. 2, 1949 F. AUTEM STOCKING COUNTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 1954 Filed Aug. 2, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR u u n HI! I Fr 1:27am

Patented May 25, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Machine Works, Wyomissing, tion of Pennsylvania Pa., a corpora- Application August 2, 1949, Serial No. 108,109

The present invention relates to a registering or metering device adapted to tally or count textile articles such as stockings and the like.

Lever operated mechanical counting devices have been used in the textile trades for recording movements caused by a manual manipulation of the articles to be counted and have usually been arranged to count on the downward movements of their operating levers.

Such devices have caused difiiculty' in that counts have sometimes been wrong due to overrunning of the rotatable counting elements, to accidental repeat movements of the actuating levers, and to accidental operation of the levers in the opposite direction from the counting movement. This last accidental movement may cause the count to be one less than it should be or it may cause the register to be reset to zero, thereby creating a more serious error, depending on the type of device. Said accidental movements of the actuating levers causing undesired counts usually occur very close after an intentional counting movement.

It is an object of the invention to provide a counting device with a retarder to slow the return of the actuating lever to its initial position after a counting movement to minimize the chances of an accidental repeat movement of the actuating lever in passing the articles to be counted through the counting device.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for preventing overrunning of the counting means after it has received an unduly forceful counting actuation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to prevent movements of the actuating levers of counting devices in a reverse direction.

Commonly, hosiery and like articles are inspected in the gray and then bagged for dyeing.

It is another object Of the invention to provide an arrangement of substantially maximum simplicity whereby stockings may be counted and bagged for dyeing after inspection with a maximum of convenience.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a detent means for releasably holding the actuating levers of the device so as not to materially hinder a counting movement of the actuating lever but to hold it strongly enough so that the average accidental contact with the actuating lever will not move it and thereby accidentally cause a counting movement.

As it is customary to tie stockings in bundles or groups of twenty-four (one dozen pairs) 4 Claims. (Cl. 235-131) before placing them in the dye-bag, it is desirable that the counting device be locked automatically against further rotation in the counting direction to call attention to the fact that a roup of a dozen pairs has been counted.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a means which will act after a certain number has been counted to eiiectively latch or look the counting means but which permits the ready release of the counting means for repeated counts up to the number at which said latch or lock becomes effective.

It is clearly desirable that a device to be used for counting stockings should have more than one counting wheel so that a number of dozens can be counted consecutively and with only a minimum time lost for releasing the counting means from said latch or lock means.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a counting device having at least two numbered counting elements and which will be locked completely for a time against turning further in the counting direction as soon as their maximum capacity has been utilized.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a counting device of simple construction, having relatively few parts and capable of economical manufacture and adapted to be reset to zero position simply by turning a units counting element forwardly and a higher order counting element backwardly.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a counting device in accordance with the invention and showing certain of the stocking inspecting equipment in dot-and-dash outline with which the counting device may be associated;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view as viewed in the direction of the arrows 22 on Fig. 1 and shown on a larger scale relative thereto;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the cover part removed in order to more clearly show other parts;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the counting device as viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. and enlarged relative to Fig. 55, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly show Others;

Fig. "I is a cross sectional view taken sucstantially on the line L-l of Fig. 5 and enlarged relative to Fig. 5, certain parts being broken away to more clearly show further details;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Fi 6;

Fi e is a cross sectional view of the taken substantially on the line 89 of and turned at 90 with respect to 8;

Fig. 10 is a detailed view of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7 but the parts being in different relative positions;

Fig. 1 is a detailed view of certain of the parts at the completion of the counting cycle;

12 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line i2-l2 of Fig. 2 but with the parts in the position of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a plan view partly in section, taken substantially on the line l3l3 of Fig. 10.

In l of the drawings, there is shown a hosiery ins ection station 28 comprising an inspection form 22 of conventional character, as for instance, the one shown in the patent to Kalbach et al., No. 2,092,806, of September 14, 1937. station also includes a counting device according to the invention and the device and said form are shown as arranged to promote the inspecting and counting of stockings with a maximum of convenience and materially fewer motions than has been the case heretofore. As shown, said station includes a table 25, shown in dot-anddash outline, and it will be understood that form is fixed to said table or to some other support member fixed in relation to the table (not shown) while counter is shown as supported from a leg of the table 2% by a clamp 36 having a portion adapted to receive a bolt 34 having a nut 35 device Fi 8 in: to clamp one end of an arm 36 to the upper face of portion 32; in adjusted angular position. At its other end, arm 35 is adjustably clamped to one end of a connecting plate 33 by means of a bolt lfi and a clamp nut ll. t its other end, plate 38 is adjustably clamped to an arm 42 (Figs. 1 and i), of a bracket 43, by means of a bolt a; and a clamp nut 45, counts 24 being carried in relation on bracket 33. It will be seen that by the adjustable connections shown, counter 2d may be adjusted to a desired position with relation to the inspection form and fixed in such position. Further, as shown, the counter Ed has a finger or lever which projects from a shell or case 52 of counter 24, as shown in Figs. and 5, for actuating the counter as hereinafter set forth. Also as shown in Fig. 4. the bracket :35 has a ring 5d fixed thereto for supporting stockings or similar articles, which have been counted by moving the finger 5E]. The particular shape of the ring support is not critical, however, the ring type support 54 shown is advantageous in that it not only may support articles which the operator may lay on it after counting them but that it is adapted to hold open the mouth of a dye bag, or the like, attached thereto, so that, when desired, fabric articles may be counted directly into the bag. For holding a bag on the ring 5c, the ring is shown as provided with radial pins 55.

Further, it will be understood that, at stations such as 20, it is the practise to pull stockings over the inspection forms before counting them and that the stockings are pulled onto the inspection forms 22 for the full length of the stockings so that any defects may be readily discovered and the perfect stockings then stripped from the form counted. While stockings can be and are place' into a dye bag as counted, it is common practise to count them into groups of twentyfour, one dozen pairs, and to tie the stockings of such groups into bundles before placing them into the dye bags. It is therefore important, in order to economize time, to arrange the inspection form relatively to the finger for the counter 24 so as to promote the convenience of the operator by minimizing the length and/or number of motions required to remove a stocking from the inspection form and press the stocking against and past the finger 50 to operate the counter 24. Aft r passing the finger 59 the stocking may be placed in the dye bag or on one side of the ring as hereinbefore set forth. In this connection it will be further understood that the inspection form is commonly set so that the stocking is drawn onto the form from left to right, so that the welt is away from the counting device during the inspection period. At this time the stocking is wrong side out. It therefore is most convenient for the operator to remove the stocking from the form by taking hold of it at the welt, the extreme right end, and stripping it on the form a leftward movement of the right hand and the same time turning the stocking right side out. To facilitate counting after inspection, therefore, in accordance with said last mentioned featu e of the invention, the inspection form 22 is so mounted that its free end is not only at a. higher level than that of the finger 50 as shown in Fig. l but is conveniently adjacent thereto being shown in dotted lines in Fig. l as close to counter and overlapping the ring 54 horizontally, while being mounted in a vertical plane substantially at right angles to the vertical plane which includes finger 53. Consequently, as the stocking is pulled oh the free end of the form 22, it is in a position most convenient to the finger and can be moved over and downward to contact and press the finger down to operate counter 24 and to drop the stocking into the bag, or to place the stocking on the ring 54.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bracket 43 is in the form of a standard or pedestal which carries threaded studs 5'1, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, by means of which the casing or shell 52 is held in supported relation on the bracket 43. The bracket &3 has an arm 58 which extends above and parallel to a portion of the ring 54. Fixed to par 53 is a shield 66 which acts to deflect one end of the stocking into the ring 5d or into the dye bag as the stocking is passed through the counting device, as hereinbefore set forth. Shield 60 has connected thereto an arm 62 which extends horizontally at the same curvature as ring 54 and arm 53 until opposite the counter 2'5. at which point it bends upwardly and extends in the vertical plane of the finger 50 at an inclination to a point above the free end of finger 50. At its upper end arm 82 is enlarged into a knob 54, Fig. 4, which has an arcuate slot or groove 68, into which finger 50 extends in the horizon position as shown in Fig. 6.

Considering the counting device or counter 24 more in detail, within the shell 52 are a pair of counting elements, shown as wheels 68 and which are mounted on a shaft 67 rotatably carried in the shell 52 and a cover plate 58 for the shell, (see Fig. 8) the wheel 69 being fixed to shaft 251 to rotate therewith while wheel 10 is loosely mounted on the shaft to rotate relative thereto, for purposes hereinafter set forth. The Wheels 69 and have flanges II and 12, respectively, which carry sheet-like members 13 and iii, re" spectively, having numerals arranged to register with one of apertures l5 and it, respectively, in the shell 52, as shown in Fig. 1. The set of numerals on member 13 of wheel 69 registers with aperture and runs from and including zero (0) up to and including twenty-three (23) The wheel 69 therefore counts one dozen pairs, the step between 23 and 0 being the 24th in a revolution while the set of numerals on member 74 on wheel 10 runs from zero (0) to ten (10). The counter 24 includes mechanism adapted and arranged to move wheel 69 the angular distance between two adjacent numerals each time the mechanism is actuated by the finger 50. Wheel 69 together with its numbered member 13, therefore constitutes the units counting element of the device 24. When the units element has counted twenty-four, a pin 13 on wheel 69 contacts one arm 19 of a member 86 fixed to a shaft 8!, to stop the wheel 69, as shown in Fig. 11, the shaft 3% also having a handle 82 fixed thereto on the outside of the casing 52 of the counting device 24. After the arm 79 has stopped the units element, the arm must be turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11, by the handle 82 to release the units wheel, which stands at zero,

and this releasing action being repeated until a predetermined number of dozens has been counted. After the required number of dozens has been counted, a pin 84 which revolves with the wheel 10, the dozens element, and which is adjustable with relation thereto, moves to a position beneath another arm 85 of member at, as shown in Fig. 11. The shaft 8| and member 80 is biased into the position of Figs. 6 and ll, by a spring 83, in which position the arm 7!! is in the path of movement of the pin .8 and the arm contacts one of screws 86 for securing cover plate 68 to casing 52, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11. In this position of the parts, at the end of a complete counting cycle, the pin as is in the path of arm 85 to prevent movement of the shaft 8! by lever 82 to move arm 79 out of the path of pin J8 and release the wheel until the dozens wheel 10 has been moved oppositely to its counting movement at least the angular distance equal to that between two digits thereon. However, as the counter stands at this time, at the end of a counting cycle, the natural thing for the operator to do is to turn the dozens wheel back so that its register stands at zero, i. e., to the start of the dozens counting cycle. For so moving wheel 70, there is provided a pin 8'! which is fastened to wheel 10 and projects through a slot Si in the cover plate 58, as shown in 2 and 8. As the wheel 10 is turned by the pin 81, another pin 88 carried on the wheel 10, engages an end 89 of arm 85 to turn it to the position of Fig. 3, this action turning shaft 8! to remove arm 13 out of the path of pin 18. The arm 19 will remain out of the path of pin 13 until the first dozen counting movement of the wheel 10, during which movement the pin 88 will be moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 out of engagement with end 89, spring 83 thereupon turning shaft 8! to again move arm 19 into the path of pin 18 on wheel 69 in which position the arm 19 will stop the wheel 69 at the end of a unit counting revolution. This action occurs after each unit counting revolution except the first one after resetting the dozen wheel 70, as hereinbefore has a greater radius than a corner 93 of pin 18 with respect to the center of shaft ti, presses the wheel in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.

11, to permit the tip 99 to pass the corner 93, the

wheel 69 immediately returning to its position of Fig. 11 by means hereinafter set forth. When the handle 82 is released the spring 83 biases the shaft 8| in the clockwise direction until the tip 99 of arm 79 engages the circumferential edge of pin 13 in which position the units wheel 69 is permitted to rotate in its units counting action.

The foregoing directions for resetting the coun-- ter in the present invention assume that the registers of the counting wheels stand, the units wheel at zero and the dozens wheel at 10 or some lesser digit serving at the time as the upper limit of the count. If, however, it is desired to reset the registers when both stand at positions between zero and their maximum count, it is only necessary to push the dozens wheel iii backward to its zero position by means of pin Si and to turn units wheel 69 forward to its zero position by hand wheel Hi8, backward in this case meaning contrary to the counting direction and forward meaning in the counting direction.

As hereinbefore set forth, the wheel '50 is adapted to count ten dozen, the setting of the device shown in the figures. In order to adjust the pin 8 so to have a counting cycle of less than ten dozen, pin 84 is carried on the outer end of a flexible lever arm 9!! which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 6 The pin is provided with an extension 92 adapted to engage in any one of ten of apertures 95 in the wheel it, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 12, the apertures having a spacing equal to that of the numerals on the member M on wheel 10. The arm also carries a pin 85 and by pressing the pin (it toward the shaft Bl, an opening 96 in plate 88- being provided for this purpose, as shown in Figs. 2 and 12, when the arm is in the position of Figs. 11 and 12, the extension 92 is withdrawn from the aperture 9 3 in which it is positioned. With the extension 92 withdrawn from the aperture 9t, corresponding to ten dozen, the dozen wheel m is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 11, counterclockwise, as

viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, until the desired numberof dozens shows in the aperture it in the casing 52. The pin 95 is then released and the extension 92 enters the aligned aperture 94. The dozens element Hi including the wheel "is may then be reset to zero for the start of the next counting cycle, as hereinbefore set forth. It will be understood that, as will presently appear, the mechanism within device 24 for operating the units element and the dozens eiement permit the dozens element to be turned backward as just described without affecting the units element in which the numeral zero does duty for both the actual zero of the count and the maximum, twenty-four, of the units element.

As has been indicated, the mechanism for moving the counting elements including the wheels 69 and 10 so as to produce an exact registration and count is operated from the finger 5i! and, for this purpose, the finger 50 extends through an opening 91 in the casing iii and is fixed in a socket in one end 98 of a rocking member it?) which is pivoted on the shaft 51. A spring Hi1, connected between the member Hit and a pin 03 in casing 52, biases the finger 50 and member to the position of Figs. 6 and 7. Also carried on end 98, as shown in Figs. 6, 9 and 10, is a bolt I02 having a pawl I04 pivotally carried thereon which is adapted and arranged to engage teeth on a ratchet I06 secured to the wheel 69. A spring I08 connected between a pin I6? on the pawl 10-? and the member I (Fig. 7) biases the pawl into engagement with the ratchet I06. The other end I06 of member I66 pivotally carries a pin H0 to one end of which is secured a false pawl H2 and having secured to its other end, a pawl H4, as shown in Figs. 6, '7, 9 and 10. The pawl I I4 is adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet H6 sccured to the dozen wheel 10, the pawl, however, only periodically engaging its ratchet as determined by engagement of the pawl I I2 with a disc I I8, also secured to the wheel 66. The peripheral surface of the disc H8 is higher than that of the ratchet H6 and in order to permit engagement of the pawl H4 with the ratchet, to turn the wheel I0, the disc H6 is provided with a tooth H6 (Fig. 10) into which the pawl H2 enters once in each counting revolution of the unit wheel Bil. A spring H5, connected between the pawl H and member I00, biases pawls I I2 and I It toward disc I I8 and ratchet H6, respectively. With this arrangement, the pawl I I4 is held out of engagement with the ratchet I I6 by contact of the false pawl H2 with the disc H8 during twenty-three of the counting movements of the member I09. During said twenty-third counting movement the tooth H9 of disc H8 is moved to its position of Fig. 6 relative to the false pawl H2. 011 the twenty-fourth movement of finger 60 and member I00, the false pawl H2 enters the tooth H6 in disc H6 thereby permitting the pawl lit to engage a tooth in the ratche 5 and turn he 0 wheel I0 a distance equal to one teeth of ratchet and register the dozens of pairs.

In order that the counting elements will .ot receive an undesired actuation causing an inaccurate count from a counting movement of the finger 50, due to the biasing action of spring l0i, a damping means is provided for the rocking member I00 which retards its return to its initial position to which it is biased by the spring IOI. Said damping means is of the dash-pot type and is shown as including an open end cylinder I32 having a head I33 which is pivotally connected by means of a pin I65 to an extension I35 of the member I60. Further, a piston I36 having a longitudinal passage I3! is arranged to operate in the cylinder I32, the inner end of passage it! being normally closed by a flap valve I42. The piston I3 is pivotally connected by a rod I38 to a pin i lil carried in a member I65 fixed to the shell 52 of the device between the counting wheels 69 and I0. As the member I00 is operated in a counting movement, the head I33 of cylinder I32 moves counterclockwise, from the position of Fig. '7 to the position of Fig. 10, with air being drawn into the cylinder through passage 31 and valve I42 thereby permitting free movement of the member I00 in the counting direction. After the counting movement of the member I66, the spring l0i tends to return the member and the oylinder I32 to the position of Fig. '7, which action closes the valve I42 on the piston I36. In order to exhaust the air in th cylinder I32 during this return movment and to control the speed of return and thereby substantially eliminate accidental counting movements of member I06, the cylinder is provided with an adjustable valve I55 in an opening in the wall of the cylinder.

In order to prevent overtravel of wheel 69 during a counting movement of member I00 there is provided a plate I50 fixed to the member I45 by screws I46 (Figs. 8 and 13). The plate I covers the pawl I04 in such manner that the slightest overtravel of wheel 69 and ratchet I06 will cause the riser portion between two adjacent teeth of the ratchet to wedge the pawl I04 against the plate thereby effectively preventing further movement of the wheel in the counting direction. On the return movement of the member to its position of Fig. 7, in the event the wheel has received a slight overtravel, the wheel will be returned to accurate position, by detent means hereinafter set forth.

overtravel of the wheel I0 is prevented by a plate member I52 ivotally mounted on the shaft 61 having a projecting portion I54 which covers the pawl H4 when it is permitted to contact the teeth of ratchet H6 by engagement of the false pawl H2 with tooth H9 in the disc H8. The member I52 is yieldably biased to the position of Figs. 6 and 7 by a spring I63 which is connected between an extension I47 of the member and a pin I48 carried in the plate I50. The plate member is limited in its clockwise movement by engagement of the extension I41 with one of the screws I45 (Fig. 10), as shown in Fig. '7. While the false pawl H2 contacts the outer periphery of the disc I I8, due to the fact that the diameter of disk H8 is greater than that of ratchet H6, the pawl H4 engages an edge I5I of the plate member I52 during the counting movement of the member I03 to turn the member I52 in the counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring 53. Otherwise, pawl H4 would not be able to make an effective racking stroke or else would strike the ratchet H6 each time the actuator 50-400 is operated, thereby destroying the utility of the dozens wheel I0 in the organization shown. However, when the false pawl H2 enters the tooth H9 of the disc H8 and permits engagement of the pawl H4 with the teeth of ratchet I I6, the counting movement of the member H30 carries the pawl I I4 beneath the projection I54. Therefore, a slight overtravel of the wheel I0 will cause the riser between two adja cent teeth in the ratchet I I6 to wedge the pawl H4 against the projection I54 and prevent further overtravel of the wheel I0. Upon return of the member I00 to its starting position (Fig. 7), the wheel 10 will be returned to accurate counting position as hereinafter set forth.

The detent means for accurately maintaining the wheels 60 and E0 in each counting position comprises balls I66 carried in extended portions I62 of member I45, overlying the inner surface of flanges II and I2 of wheels 66 and I0, respectively, and forming cages for the balls I60 as shown in Fig. 8. The balls I60 are pressed into apertures I64 and I65 in the flanges II and 72, respectively, by springs I66 abutting portions I62, the apertures in the flanges being equal in number to the counting positions of the wheels. With this arrangement when the wheels are given a slight accidental overtravel during the counting movement of the finger 50 and member I00, the balls I60 are pressed into the apertures by the springs I66 with sufficient force to return the wheels to accurate counting or registering position.

In the foregoing description, only the situation has been considered in which the counting device is stopped on an even dozen. Of course, there will be times when the batch of stockings being counted is less than twenty-four (two dozens). Therefore it is necessary that means be provided for turning the counting wheel 69 to its zero or starting position. However, due to the constant engagement of the pawl I04 with the ratchet I96 on the wheel 69, the wheel may only be turned in the counting direction. The means shown for turning wheel 69 is in the form of a handwheel I68 which is secured to the shaft 61. Therefore, with the wheel fixed to the shaft, as hereinbefore set forth, turning the shaft by means of the wheel I68 will also turn the wheel 69. Insofar as the dozens wheel 70 is concerned, the wheel may always be reset by means of pin 81 as the pawl H4 is always maintained out of engagement with the ratchet I I6 by engagement of the false pawl H2 with the disc H8, as hereinbefore set forth.

Of course, the improvements shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A counting device having a counting means including a units wheel and a higher order wheel, means for actuating said wheels in the counting direction including a pawl and a toothed ratchet for each of said wheels, the ratchet means for the higher order. wheel including a plate member connected to turn with the units wheel and having a tooth recessed in its surface, a false pawl connected to the pawl for the higher order wheel and adapted to engage said plate member, and means for preventing overrunning of the ratchet for the higher order wheel including a pivoted member having a portion against which the pawl for the higher order wheel thrusts in positions in which the false pawl is out of engagement with the tooth of said plate member to turn said pivoted member out of the way of said pawl for the higher order wheel but beneath which said latter pawl slides without turning said pivoted member when the false pawl engages the tooth in said plate member.

2. A counting device having lower and higher order counting wheels, means for actuating said wheels in the counting direction including a pawl and a toothed ratchet for the lower order of wheel and a second pawl and toothed ratchet for the higher order wheel, a lever operated at each counting action of the device and on which said pawls are pivoted, a disc having a recess in the outer periphery thereof connected to said lower order counting wheel for rotation therewith, a pawl-like member connected to said second pawl and adapted to engage the outer periphery of said disc to prevent engagement of said second pawl with its toothed ratchet and actuation of said higher order counting wheel except when said pawl-like member engages said recess, and means for preventing overrunning of said higher order counting wheel including a pivoted member having a portion overlying said second pawl when it is permitted to engage said toothed ratchet.

3. A counting device having a higher order counting wheel, means for actuating said wheel including a toothed ratchet, a lower order counting wheel, a lever operated at each counting action of the device, a pawl for cooperation with said ratchet and connected to said lever for operation thereby through uniform strokes, a disc having a recess on the outer periphery thereof, means connecting said disc to said lower order counting wheel for rotation therewith, a member connected to said pawl and adapted to engage the outer periphery of said disc to hold said pawl disengaged from the toothed ratchet during said strokes except when said member enters said recess, and means cooperating with said pawl for preventing overrunning of the higher order counting wheel when moved by the engagement of said pawl with said ratchet.

4. A counting device having a counting means including a units wheel a higher order wheel, actuating means for turning said wheels in the counting direction and movable through actuating strokes upon each operation of said counting device, means for normally holding said higher order wheel actuating means in inactive position during its stroke and including means to permit said actuating means to move to active position to turn said higher order wheel at intervals, means for preventing overrunning of said units wheel, and pivoted means cooperating with the higher order counting wheel actuating means for preventing overrunning of said higher order wheel while permitting said actuating means for the higher order wheel to move through strokes of the same length in both active and inactive positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent,

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